In this day and age- where everyone carries around a smart phone and has access to the Internet, you may wonder about the practicality of business cards.
These questions beg to be asked:
- How important are business cards if you’re a student
- How important are business cards if you're unemployed?
- Do you still need one if you're a creative or not looking for a job?
The short answer is YES.
Every man needs a business card or a calling card.
You need a business card for the sole reason that it provides an easy way for other people to get in touch with you.
Click here to watch Do You Need Business Cards| The Importance of Business Cards on Youtube
A business card is necessary for 4 reasons:
1. Business cards give people the ability to follow up
When you meet someone and develop that instant rapport you want to give them a chance to follow up with you instantly without having to reach for a pen or their phone.
If left with no other choice do not hesitate to hand over your phone to the other person and have him type in his contact details and vice versa.
Another option is to use phone apps that allow the gadgets to exchange contact information.
Although these options are available to many there will always be instances where you meet someone who may not have all of these technological things on them or isn't comfortable using them.
This is why nothing can still replace the business card in encouraging people to follow up with you.
2. Business cards show that you are a professional
The littlest things we do send out the biggest messages.
Something as simple as a business card is indicative that you took the time to actually put your information in a card. This immediately separates you from 99% of the other men out there who may be students like you or are out there seeking a job like yourself.
3. Having a business card keeps one focused on the goal
In situations where one is trying to look for work it is not unusual to participate in a few networking events.
If you decide to go to events like these with a certain number of business cards on your person then you can immediately create a goal for yourself.
An example of a goal would be to make to distribute the 50 business cards that you brought along to the event. You can also create secondary goals such as collect at least 20 of others’ business cards or have at least 15 to 20 people express interest in following up with you.
If you decide to approach networking events in this manner then your business cards can serve as a reminder and keep you focused on the goal -which is to follow up with people regarding possible opportunities.
4. Business cards can help make you referable
A good business card will not only contain one’s name and contact details. It should also mention what that person’s skills are.
Having this extra detail can make all the difference because although the person that you initially give your business card may not know what to do with you and your skills, he may know someone in his network that has in need of someone like you.
It is good to remember that random encounters with different people happen all the time. And when they do, you always want to be prepared to take advantage of these meetings and the opportunities that could arise from them.
To me there is no such thing as luck.
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
In saying that make sure that you always have your business cards with you so when opportunity comes you are already prepared and you too may get “lucky” and find success.
Want more?
Check out this article on creating the perfect business card.
Click here to watch Do You Need Business Cards| The Importance of Business Cards on Youtube
